Mazda Australia has previewed its expanded range of more upmarket SUVs, with our country to be the first and only market globally to offer the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 concurrently.
The preview at the National Gallery in Canberra marks the first time all four Large Architecture-based SUVs have been displayed together publicly.
The CX-70 and CX-80 are due in Australia by the end of 2024, while the CX-60 and CX-90 were launched here in 2023.
UPDATE, 1/7/2024 – You can read a more detailed breakdown of the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 in our What’s the difference? article.
As to how these similarly styled, mechanically related vehicles differ from each other, Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi explained they all play “their own distinct role”.
“Whether it’s the pursuit of life’s passions in the CX-70, the family focus of the CX-80, the lap of luxury in the CX-90 or the CX-60’s embodiment of Mazda Premium technology, our commitment to an all-hybrid model range also opens up a wealth of new opportunities for Mazda owners to fully enrich their life in motion,” he said.
Put simply, the two-row CX-60 and its three-row CX-80 counterpart are narrower, and designed for markets like Japan and Europe.
The two-row CX-70 and three-row CX-90, which share the same body as each other, are wider and developed with the North American market in mind.
As to why we are getting all four, Australia is a major market for Mazda and we’ve often received a mix of vehicles.
For example, the discontinued CX-8 was developed for the Japanese market and the CX-9 for North America, but despite both being classified as large SUVs and offering three rows of seating, we received both.
Though the CX-9 is gone and the CX-8 is in runout mode, that doesn’t necessarily simplify the Mazda lineup.
Once the rollout of its new Large Architecture-based models is complete, Mazda will have one light SUV (the CX-3), one small (the CX-30), two mid-sized (CX-5, CX-60), and three large (CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90).
It has refrained from marketing its new Large Architecture models as ‘luxury’ SUVs, despite their rear/all-wheel drive underpinnings, choice of inline six-cylinder petrol or diesel and plug-in hybrid four-cylinder powertrains, and pricing that pushes them further towards the likes of Lexus and Volvo.
What is the Mazda CX-70?
The CX-70 shares its body with the CX-90, but features some minor design tweaks and does without a third row of seating.
It measures 5100mm long, 1971mm wide and 1736mm tall on a 3120mm wheelbase.
While the CX-70 will offer turbocharged petrol six-cylinder and plug-in hybrid four-cylinder drivetrains in North America, the new SUV will offer turbocharged 3.3-litre inline-six petrol and diesel options in Australia from launch, like the CX-90.
The plug-in hybrid hasn’t been confirmed for our market. This teams a 2.5-litre petrol engine with a more powerful electric motor and larger li-ion battery pack.
Outputs for the CX-70 diesel haven’t been confirmed, but in the CX-90 this engine produces 187kW and 550Nm.
As is the case in the CX-60 and CX-90, the six-cylinder engines will be mated to Mazda’s 48V M Hybrid Boost system.
This features a small lithium-ion battery and electric motor to extend the fuel-saving stop-start system’s speed range as well as turn the engine off while coasting, in addition to assisting the combustion engine under load.
Expect an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-biased all-wheel drive as standard. While the CX-60 is offered in some markets like Japan with rear-wheel drive, the CX-90 is AWD-only in the US and the CX-70 will likely mirror that strategy.
Inside, there’s an available Red Nappa leather option, which isn’t currently offered by its stablemates.
What is the Mazda CX-80?
The CX-80 measures 4995mm long, 1890mm wide and 1710mm tall on a 3120mm wheelbase, making it 250mm longer and 24mm higher on a 250mm longer wheelbase than the CX-60.
Mazda’s local division has also confirmed the CX-80 will be available with three distinct powertrains: mild-hybrid inline six-cylinder turbo-petrol and turbo-diesel powerplants, as well as a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid.
Like the CX-8 and CX-9 before it, as well as the related CX-90, the CX-80 will be available with a conventional three-seat rear bench or two captain chairs with a centre console, in addition to a flat-folding third row of seats.
Confirmed details for the Australian market thus far include Mazda Connected Services accessible in conjunction with the new MyMazda App – debuting shortly on the new MX-5 sports car – as well as a new Trailer Hitch View “which uses the centre display and advanced graphics to help position the vehicle relative to a caravan or trailer”.
The CX-80 will also debut some extended driver assistance functionality when it lands Down Under, including a new Unresponsive Driver Support feature (also coming to the CX-70), head-on collision mitigation for the AEB system, as well as head-on traffic avoidance assist for the emergency lane-keeping function.
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